Floating marine marker

ABSTRACT

A floating marine marker in which a relatively thin wall surrounds a central vertical open area to permit the passage of water therethrough from rough seas. The relatively thin wall is divided into a plurality of water tight compartments which may be filled with flotation foam if desired. In the modified form of the invention the wall is formed of flotation foam coated with plastic to prevent disintegration of the wall. A flexible removable plastic spider having a central vertical bore is mounted in the top of the marker and is adapted to support a flag pole or like. A bar is embedded in the lower end of the marker for attaching anchor lines thereto. The bar has a central notch for supporting the flag pole. The marker has downwardly sloping tapered walls and may be generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section, triangular in horizontal cross-section, hexangular, circular, oval, or any other desired cross-sectional shape.

' United States Patent Inman [451 May 9, 1972 [54] FLOATING MARINE MARKER Clarence D. Inman, 107 Pine Drive, Covington, La. 70433 221 Filed: rm.4,1970

211 Appl.No.: 95,040

[72]. inventor:

52 U.S.CI. .."......9/sn

Meller' ..9/8 R Primary E.\'aminerRichard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Douglas D. Watts At!orne \-Berman, Davidson and Herman [57] ABSTRACT A floating marine marker in which a relatively thin wall surrounds a central vertical open area to permit the passage of water therethrough from rough seas. The relatively thin wall is divided into a plurality of water tight compartments which may be filled with flotation foam if desired. In the modified form of the invention the wall is formed of flotation foam coated with vplastic to prevent disintegration of the wall. A flexible removable plastic spider having a central vertical bore is mounted in the top of the marker and is adapted to support a flag pole or like. A bar is embedded in the lower end of the marker for attaching anchor lines thereto. The bar has a central notch for supporting the flag pole. The marker has downwardly sloping tapered walls and may be generally rectangular in horizontal cross-section, triangular in horizontal cross-section, hexangular, circular, oval, or any other desired cross-sectional shape.

' 6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENT'EDMM 91972 SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. CZ AWE/v65 0 //\/MA/\/,

BY 5W WM #5 ATTORNEYJ.

PATENTEMY 9 m2 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIG. 6.

ATTORNEYS.

FLOATING MARINEMARKER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to temporary marine markers for indicating underwater construction in areas that are navigable. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a light weight plastic floating marine marker having downwardly and inwardly sloping walls with each wall tapering from the thicker upper portion to a thinner lower portion. The walls have a plurality of air tight compartments either empty. or filled with flotation foam so that the breaching of one or several compartments will not permit the marker to sink.

A flexible removeable plastic spider in the upper portion of the marker permits the markers to be nested for shipment with the spider supporting a flagpole or the like as desired. A plastic cross bar in the lower part of the marker is molded into the marker for attaching an anchor line thereto.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a floating marine marker which will not damage boats striking the same and which is open centrally to permit rough water to pass vertically therethrough, and avoid putting a sudden heavy pulling force or jerk on the marker anchor line in rough seas.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical crosssection taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 3- 3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the invention shown in floating position in the water;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a modified shape of the marker;

FIG. 6 is a top'plan view of another modified shape of the marker;

FIG. 7 is a top planview of still another modified shape of the marker; and 7 FIG. 8 is a top'plan view of still another modified shape of the marker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a floating marine marker constructed in accordance with the invention.

The marine marker 10 includes a pair of side walls l1, 12 integrally joined by a second pair of side walls l3, 14. Each of the side walls l1, 12, 13, 14 have a plurality of water tight compartments 15 formed therein to provide flotation for the marker 10. The water tight compartments 15 ma be filled with flotation foam plastic if desired.

The side wall 11 has a hand grip 16 molded therein and the side wall 12 has a hand grip 17 moulded therein to provide for easy handling of the marker 10.

A generally horizontal flexible plastic spider 18 has a plurality of outwardly extending arms 19 with one of the arms 19 extending through each of the walls 11, 12, 13, 14 adjacent the upper end thereof. A cotter key 20 extends through the outer end of each of the arms 19 to prevent the flexible spider 18 from being dislodged from the marker 10. The spider 18 has a vertical central bore 21 formed therein to receive a flag pole indicated by dotted lines at 22 or a light (not shown) when desired.

A plastic bar 23 extends transversely of the lower end of the marker 10 with its'outer ends molded intothe lower ends of the walls 13, 14. The bar 23 has a central offset portion 24 to receive the flag pole 22 which extends downwardly therethrough. An anchor line 25 is adapted to be connected to the bar 23 to anchor the marker 10 at any desired spot.

The shape of the marker 10 with its inwardly sloping side walls-11, 12, 13, 14 is such that the markers 10 may be readily nested for shipment with the spider l8 removed.

The marker 10 may be formed of plastic foam material instead of using the flotation compartments if such be desired. When using plastic foam walls for the marker 10 a plastic protective coating will be used to prevent disintegration of the plastic foam.

In FIG. 5 a modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the marker is indicated generally at 110. The marker is of generally triangular horizontal cross-section formed of side walls 111, 112 and 113 joined at their side edges. The side walls 111, 112, and 113 taper from a thinner lower portion to a thicker upper portion similarly to the side walls 11, 12, 13, 14 of the preferred form of the invention. A flexible spider 118 has three arms 119 which extend through the walls 111, 112, 113 adjacent the upper portion thereof and are secured in the same manner as the flexible spider 18 in the preferred form of the invention. A bar 123 is molded into the lower end of the marker 110 for the same purpose as the bar 23 in the preferred form of the invention.

The marker 110 is identical in use and operation to the marker 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4.

-In FIG. 6 another modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the marker is indicated generally at 210. The marker 210 has a circular horizontal cross-section but is otherwise identical to the marker 10 illustrated in FIG. 1. The marker 210 has a flexible spider 218 detachablysecured to the upper portion thereof in the same manner as the flexible spider 18 is secured to the marker 10. A horizontal bar 223 is molded into the lower end of the marker 210 in the same manner that the bar 23 is molded into the marker 10. The use and operation of the marker 210 isidentical to that of the marker 10.

In FIG. 7 another modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the marker is indicated generally at 310. The marker 310 is hexangular in horizontal cross-section including a plurality of identical walls 311 integrally joined together at their meeting edges. A generally horizontal flexible spider 318 has three arms 319 which extend centrally through alternate side walls 311 and are detachably secured therein in the same manner that the flexible spider 18 is secured in the marker 10. A generally horizontal bar 323 is molded into the lower end of the marker 310 in the same manner that the bar 23 is molded into the marker 10. The use andoperation of the marker 310 is identical to that of the marker 10.

In FIG. 8 another modified form of the invention is illustrated wherein the marker is illustrated generally at 410. The marker 410 is identical to the marker 210 with the exception that the horizontal cross-section thereof is oval rather than circular. The marker 410 has a flexible spider 418 detachably secured near the upper portion thereof and a bar 423 embedded in the lower portion thereof in the same manner that the bar 23 is embedded in the marker 10. The use and operation of the marker 410 is identical to that of the marker 10.

The construction of the markers 10, 110, 210, 310 and 410 is such that when struck by a boat or other floating object the marker will give way rather then damage the boat. The open center portion of the marker 10 permits rough water to flow vertically therein to prevent putting a heavy pulling force or jerk on the marker anchor line in rough seas.

The markers will be constructed in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors so that the users can establish a code system to clearly indicate the under water conditions which may be met.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A floating marine marker comprising a floating plastic member having downwardly and inwardly tapering side walls and completely open centrally to permit the passage of water therethrough to avoid putting a sudden heavy pulling force or jerk on the marker anchor line in rough seas, a flexible plastic spider detachably secured to the upper end of said marker to permit said markers to be stacked upon removal of said spider, and a horizontal bar extending transversely horizontally of the lower end of said marker for attaching an anchor line.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side walls of said marker include a plurality of air tight flotation compartments.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flotation compartments are filled with flotation foam plastic.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible spider has a plurality of arms extending through the side walls ofsaid marker adjacent the top thereofand removeable means are provided on the ends of each of said arms for preventing said arms from disengaging from said side walls.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided on said spider and said bar for detachably supporting a flag pole or light therein.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bar is formed of plastic. 

1. A floating marine marker comprising a floating plastic member having downwardly and inwardly tapering side walls and completely open centrally to permit the passage of water therethrough to avoid putting a sudden heavy pulling force or jerk on the marker anchor line in rough seas, a flexible plastic spider detachably secured to the upper end of said marker to permit said markers to be stacked upon removal of said spider, and a horizontal bar extending transversely horizontally of the lower end of said marker for attaching an anchor line.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the side walls of said marker include a plurality of air tight flotation compartments.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said flotation compartments are filled with flotation foam plastic.
 4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said flexible spider has a plurality of arms extending through the side walls of said marker adjacent the top thereof and removeable means are provided on the ends of each of said arms for preventing said arms from disengaging from said side walls.
 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein means are provided on said spider and said bar for detachably supporting a flag pole or light therein.
 6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bar is formed of plastic. 